Carry Me (what Senna taught me)

We had a busy day…a busy, fun day. We had played and had many adventures, and now we were heading to the park to see the animals. First, of course, we had to stop by the tractor and sit on the seat and drive it for a bit. Then we walked past the horses munching on their lunch of rich, green grass. Next stop was the peacock barn. We sat on the chairs in front there for a while, watching as one peacock with all white feathers was strutting around, rustling them. He made us smile as he hopped back and forth, looking like he was dancing.

 

After a while, we moved on to the chicken coop and listened as they roamed around calling out greetings. Then it was on to the path toward Turtle Pond. Shortly after crossing a bridge, Senna, my sweet granddaughter, stopped in the middle of the path and simply stated, “Carry me.” Her almost 3 year old legs were tired, and she knew without hesitation that I could and gladly would scoop her up into my arms and carry her. As I picked her up and she wrapped her little arms around me, I thought – this is what God does and wants to do for me. When I am weary, all I need to do is say, “Carry me.” That’s what Jesus promises. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

We saved Turtle Pond for another day and headed out for ice cream instead. A perfect ending to a busy, beautiful, fun day.

 ~ Sarah (and Senna)

Not Done Yet

She tugged back on his hand and said, “No, G-dad, I not done yet.” We were in the mall, slowly strolling along and taking in all the Christmas decorations with our 2 ½ year old granddaughter, Senna. Both my husband, Mike (aka G-dad), and I were enjoying watching the wonder in Senna’s eyes and the smiles and expressions of joy on her face even more than looking at the decorations. We had stopped at a window with an animated fox and bear giving each other presents. We were there for several minutes, watching the scene repeat itself many times, when Mike gently pulled Senna’s hand, and said, “Ok, let’s go on”. After Senna informed us that she wasn’t finished watching this yet, we stayed a few more minutes until she had time to soak it all in.

Mike and our terrific son, Dan.

This made me wonder how much I miss by moving on too quickly. This beautiful Christmas season, I have been really savoring the moments, and I hope you have, too. From stopping for an extra few minutes gazing at Christmas decorations to spontaneous parades with Senna singing Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, and other carols in the house, to laughing and goofing off jumping in front of our Christmas tree, it has been a joy-filled season. As Jim Elliott stated: “Wherever you are - be all there.”

There is so much beauty and joy all around us, not just in shop windows, but also in the people surrounding us. As the saying goes, “The eyes are the window to the soul”. So I encourage you to slow down and gaze into not just holiday decorated windows, but also into the windows, that is, the eyes, of the people all around you.
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”

        ~ Sarah

G-dad and me.    

Senna helping with cookie baking. ;)

Senna sampling the cookies while her daddy and mommy decorate them.
(our wonderful daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Dave)

Misjudging the Sunlight

Her face was all scrunched up, rather looking like she was scowling. I was a young teenager, and my mom was driving me somewhere. Truthfully, I don’t remember where we were heading. However, I do remember us making a turn and passing a woman at a stop sign. She was waiting to pull out onto the road, and her head was turned towards us. I said to my mom that she sure looked mad. My mom took a look at her and told me that the woman was simply squinting, because the sun was in her eyes. As I took a second look, I saw that my mom was right. The sunlight was streaming directly in the woman’s eyes, and she was squinting to try to see.

This happened a long time ago, but the memory of it has always stuck with me. How many times do I still jump to conclusions and misjudge people? The answer, unfortunately, is still way too many times. I try to look at the whole picture and also think about the fact that we never know all that is going on in someone else’s life. It seems to me that it’s a great idea to look at others with a lot more grace and a lot less judgment. I know I hope others will look at me that way.

One of my favorite verses says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16). How I want my life to be marked by love! Thankfully, this is actually possible. It is only possible because of Jesus and the fact that He is changing me as I yield to Him. It is definitely a process and not an overnight change, but like the psalmist, I pray, “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2).

God is always faithful and always loving. You can count on it!

~ Sarah

 

30 Dates for 30 Years

 

It's 30 years later, and the smiles are still there!

30 years holds a lot of memories, and for Mike and me, it holds a lot of happiness. This past summer we celebrated our 30^th anniversary. Actually, we are still celebrating it, because we decided to have 30 dates in celebration of our 30 years. We even had fun putting the list of dates together. They range from ones as simple as having a cup of tea together on our deck to spending a day at the beach in New Jersey where we had our honeymoon.

 

Our daughter, Amy, is getting married this month. At her bridal shower we had a spot for people to write a message or advice for the bride-to-be. This made me think about the best advice I’ve received. Probably at the top is my mom’s encouragement to always put Jesus first, others second and yourself last. That leads to true joy, just like the acronym created by the first letters of Jesus, others, you. This is true not just in marriage, but in all of life. I know it is backwards from what most every commercial tells us. However, if you put it into practice, you will be surprised at the depth of joy it leads to.

 

The pastor who married Mike and me also gave us sound advice. He talked about how often you hear that marriage must be 50/50, then he said to forget that. He stated that if we each focused on always giving 100%, we would have a solid marriage. I’ve found that to be another excellent truth. I wonder if part of the reason may be that those who approach marriage with the 50/50 concept are always calculating if they each are doing their “fair share”. Believe me, as long as you both give 100%, it balances out! It also brings joy, because you are helping the one you love.

The advice I decided to share with Amy was to keep God first always, and to be sure to keep having dates. Going on dates is crucial, and it is so much fun!! I don’t think it even matters all that much what you do; the more important thing is who you’re doing it with! Throughout our lives together, Mike and I have enjoyed many dates. It is so good to set aside special time together, to catch up together, talk together, laugh together, and simply be together, apart from everyone else. Notice that the key word is together.


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Of course, I am so fortunate, because Mike is one of a kind. Then again, I hope that everyone feels that way about the one they marry.

 

                                                                                                                               ~ Sarah

 

My Mom

Mom enjoying holding her great-granddaughter, Senna.

The night we heard the news, I told my husband, Mike, that we needed to make a “Going to Heaven” mix CD for her. He replied that he had been thinking the very same thing. My mom is now there, in heaven. She placed her trust in Jesus as her Savior many years ago. When she was diagnosed with leukemia and informed that she only had days or months to live, that trust continued. She inspired and encouraged me! As the pastor stated at her memorial service, she lived well, and she died well. I would say that her whole life was a song of praise.

Mom enjoying a last trip to World's End State Park.

I was privileged to help care for her during her last days here on earth. Many times I heard her praying, unaware of my presence. I heard her telling Jesus how much she loved Him and simply praising Him with joy in the midst of her suffering. She talked about how excited she was to be going to heaven.

In her honor, I’d like to share a devotion that she inspired. May you also know the joy and peace of trusting in Jesus. Oh, and we did make that music mix, and she enjoyed it a lot!

Collecting Seashells

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29

Mom enjoying her quiet time with God.



 

My mom has mastered the principle of letting all things make her more like Jesus. Recently, Mom was getting ready to have surgery on her left shoulder. When I asked what help she’d need and mentioned that it would be hard for a while, she said that she’d just learn to use her right arm better. What a great perspective! Instead of asking God to change her circumstances, she asks God to use her circumstances to change her.

When Mom and I go to the beach together, she likes to collect shells. She doesn’t look for that “perfect shell”, though. Instead, she seeks out shells that are broken and have had their rough edges smoothed and shaped by repeated exposure to waves and sand. To me this is a picture of a Christian – a broken life allowing God to shape it by whatever waves and sand He chooses, abandoning itself to Him with joy in the process! I know God’s goal is to make me more like Jesus, and I know that He knows best how to accomplish this. Psalm 138:8 promises, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

I'm so thankful for my mom's example, and it fills me with joy, knowing that one day I will see her again!

                                                                                                       ~ Sarah

Mom and me







My husband, Mike, making my mom laugh (as usual:).



A birthday celebration!





Washing Gum and Other Misadventures

I found it. It had been missing for over a day. I found it after I unknowingly washed and dried it. It was a half a pack of chewing gum, and yes, you read that right. I found it after I washed and dried it. Did I mention that it was in the midst of my nursing uniforms? Ugh!

After several sighs and de-gumming the dryer, I started thinking about failures. Usually I don't like to mention my failures, because, well, they make me feel like a failure! But here I go, sharing with the world a few of my misadventures and what I've learned from them.

I never thought I would do this, let alone share it, but here I go. This past year I was given a beautiful, cute puppy. I was really excited to have a dog again. Five months later I gave her up to another family. My family and I prepared our home for this furry little addition, and we worked hard at making her part of our lives. We live in a townhome, so we knew she would need several walks a day to get enough exercise. Many hours were spent on training and walks and runs. We even took her to obedience school for training. We loved and still love her.




In spite of the love and training, she remained resistant to following commands. The worst part was that we couldn't trust her around people. She would nip at them quite hard, not viciously, but hard enough to possibly hurt them. We eventually came to the conclusion that she would be better with a family with a fenced yard where she could run around more frequently. I freely admit I cried when we gave her up, but I felt and still feel certain that it was the right thing to do. You may think this is no big deal, but it really impacted me.

That may seem trivial to you, particularly if you don't like dogs. So let me share one more sample of failing. I'm a nurse working in an intensive care unit. Sometimes in spite of all our efforts, a patient's body simply doesn't respond to treatment. They worsen and sometimes die. Their organs fail. They go into heart failure, respiratory failure, kidney failure, and so on. The reality is that God designed us incredibly, but still, our bodies aren't meant to live forever.

The lesson from the gum incident is simple. I should more carefully check my pockets before throwing clothes into the laundry basket. I must admit that I'm still trying to figure out the lesson from getting and then having to give up a puppy. One thing is that I wouldn't judge anyone else for having to give up a pet. Another is that failing at something doesn't mean you're a failure.

One thing I've learned from being a critical care nurse is that while we encourage our patients to fight to live, we must also prepare them for dying. This may seem contradictory, but I truly believe that these go hand in hand. We should all face the fact that death will find us at some point. Doing so should spur us on to live more fully and to treasure each moment.

A while ago I met a girl from Australia who was living here in the United States for a season. She really impressed me, because she was so enthusiastic about trying new things. I remember her playing volleyball for the first time. To be honest, she wasn't a natural and was not that good. However, she enjoyed it so much that her enthusiasm was contagious. Her joy at experiencing life inspired me!

The most important lesson I've learned from failing is that God loves me all the time. He loves you all the time, too. His grace and mercy are never ending. It's astonishing how much He loves us, failures and all!

No Worries

She doesn't worry about anything. She is completely dependent, but she doesn't worry. Sure, she has needs. She just makes her needs known, and they are happily and lovingly met.

Meet my granddaughter, Senna. She is just over one month old now and is already teaching me things and reminding me of truths that never change. Like the wonderful truth in the verse, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

The last few months (actually, all of 2012) have been rather a whirlwind. Senna has helped me to stop again. Just stop and be still and appreciate. She has reminded me to simply relax and enjoy the moments.

I look forward to all the moments to come, but I am heeding the words of Jim Elliot, who said, "Wherever you are, be all there!"
                    May you rest in God's presence in the present!  ~ Sarah

Here are some more photos, because I can't help but share my joy!

Happy parents Dave and Amy.

Sweet smiles.

G-Dad enjoying being G-Dad.

Uncle Danny!

Me enjoying the moment.






The Countdown

The exciting countdown is on! In May 2012, my daughter, Amy, and her Dave are having a baby. This means that I am becoming a grandmom! My husband, Mike, immediately started looking up cool grandad names when we heard the happy news. He and Amy settled on G-dad for him, which I think is a perfect fit. As for me, I figure I will simply wait and see.

Sweet Amy and her Dave are expecting their first child.

What a miracle and gift this is. It amazes me to think how God creates and designs each of us. As Amy's little baby is growing inside her right now, God already knows exactly what this little one will look like and be like. He loves her! Oh, did I mention that we found out she's having a girl? I have the cutest picture of her from Amy's ultrasound. You can actually see one of her little arms and fingers. The details visible already are astounding.



This makes me think of the wonderful verses in Psalm 139, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (verses 13-16)

Wow! Those verses are true for each one of us, including Amy and Dave's daughter who will make her appearance sometime in May.



Dan, Mike, me, Bones, Amy, and Dave



The Christmas Candle

My first candle holder with several
years of wax coloring its sides.

It always signaled the start of the Christmas season for us. No, I'm not talking about the Macy's parade, or black Friday, or Santa Claus arriving at the mall. It was my mom putting out the Christmas candle. The years of melted wax had covered the candle holder so that you could no longer tell it was actually a maple syrup bottle, Aunt Jemima, I think.

Every day in the month of December my mom would light that candle each time she was in the kitchen. It had become a beautiful, multi-colored part of Christmas to us. She explained that it was to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.

Left to Right: My kids, Dan, Amy, my Mom, and
my Mike decorating iced sugar cookies together.
Notice the candle burning brightly on the table.

Note that I said Jesus is the light of the world, not Jesus was the light of the world. No matter what is going on in the world or in your own world, Jesus doesn't change, nor does His love. Christmas is Jesus.

My new maple syrup bottle, all ready
to shine the light and remind us of
the true Light, Jesus.

I have my own Christmas candle now. The candle holder used to be an Arizona tea bottle that the candles never quite fit properly into. This year I am excitedly retiring that bottle, because my Mike brought me a maple syrup bottle. I discovered that candles fit perfectly into it. So tomorrow the tradition continues. It's not the tradition that counts, but the meaning behind it.



May you enjoy this special season with your own traditions, and as you celebrate, may you fully understand the meaning of it all. I wish for hope, joy, and peace through Jesus Christ to you and your families!

                                                         Joyfully,

                                                         Sarah

Three Little Girls with Big Hearts

This past Saturday, Cornerstone Christian Bookstore in Vineland, New Jersey, graciously hosted my first official book signing. You may or may not have noticed the little blurb on the side of my blog about my book called  ...And God Made Me!  This book started as an idea to let children know the truth that God made them and loves them. It grew into photographs and text, was accepted for publication by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC, and was officially released on August 30, 2011. Here's the trailer they've produced for it.

As Mike (my terrific husband) and I were just getting things set up for this book signing, three little girls  excitedly came up to us. After looking at the book, they decided that they wanted to get three. I asked them to check with their mom and dad, so they did. I listened as they explained to their parents that they wanted to get these books to give to their friends! How wonderful is that?!?

Their mom explained that last Sunday was the first time some of their girls' friends had gone to church with them. Seeing the enthusiasm these young children had for sharing the love of Jesus with others was heart-warming and inspiring. That is what this book is all about. That is the purpose of it. I feel so privileged to have a small part in sharing this great news. Not only are children loved by God, you are, too. He created each of us and has a great design for us. You really are special. To find out more, please check out:

http://sarahshares.com/YouAreVerySpecial.html





 

Stranded



The Loyalsock Creek in the midst of the flooding.

We were stranded. Fortunately, our camp site was on higher ground, so the floodwaters weren't endangering us. The Loyalsock Creek flowing through World's End State Park in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania was rising quickly. It flowed over its banks and covered the road. The rushing, raging water even tore down trees in its path. The power of the torrent of water was astonishing. We watched and listened as one tree came crashing down and was flung along with the current. We took several walks throughout the day to check on the road and the water. Below are a few photos of the changing scenery that day.



This is what the Loyalsock Creek
 usually looks like.



The creek rose higher and higher...



Then it covered the road. (Don't worry,
they were perfectly safe.)

Eventually the rain stopped, and the waters slowly went down. Later that same day the roads opened again. There was evidence of the flood all around, in the mud-covered roadways, the trees left lying in various places, and the crushed corn stalks. In the midst of all this damage, one thing stood out to me. There was a tree right in the creek that was still standing, and there was another tree that had been torn out of the ground jammed against that upright tree. (see pic below)

As I looked closer, I realized that the tree that still stood tall was coming out of a rock. It was standing on a rock. What a great reminder! Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

(Matt. 7:24-25)

Storms and floods may come in a variety of forms, like job loss, sickness, accidents, or other challenges. Actually, storms will come. However, Jesus Christ is a solid rock and a sure foundation. If you know and rely on Him, you will not be swept away by anything. He promises to be near, and He can give you a peace that the strongest winds and most powerful waters cannot uproot.  

 

Dirt, Rodeos, and Tenacity

Covered in dust after a long wrestling match with a bull,
the cowboy walked out of the arena after being
cheered by the crowd.

The seconds ticked on and on and on as the cowboy determinedly wrestled the bull to the ground. At last he succeeded and the crowd cheered. He was covered in dust, and his time didn't put him near the top contenders for the cash prize. However, his tenacity and perseverance were admired by the rodeo crowd and his competitors. It certainly impressed me.

This was my first time ever seeing a rodeo. I was supposed to be working. When I was put on-call, Mike and I took advantage and went to the Cecil County Fair in Maryland. It happened to be Rodeo Night. Of course, before we grabbed a seat in the stands, we explored a little bit. Neither Mike or I had any idea what friendly creatures cows are. As Mike stood next to one for a photo, it suddenly licked the side of his face!

Mike goofing around after this cow licked his face!

After getting our fill of the fantastic food that is always available at county fairs: BBQ beef sandwiches, beach fries, and ice cream, we grabbed a seat in the bleachers for the rodeo. It was exciting seeing the riders bearing the American flag go racing around the arena then coming to a sudden stop for everyone to rise and sing the national anthem.

These cowboys made riding galloping horses while
carrying the American flag look effortless.

Next we watched as bucking broncos tried to lose their riders, cowboys leaped off their horses and tackled young bulls, and pairs of cowboys lassoed bulls in a race against the clock and other competitors' times. It was such fun to watch and cheer them on! I was wondering how one trains for a rodeo. It seems like it must take a lot of practice and falls and getting up again. Isn't that like life? At least for me it is.

That cowboy I mentioned at the beginning is a picture of inspiration to me. He stuck with it and didn't stop until he succeeded. No matter what you're wrestling with, don't give up. The struggles make us stronger and better if we let them. God can use anything and everything to shape us. After hearing bad or sad news at times I've heard someone mention "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose", but I always think they need to go a bit further and include the next part, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." (Romans 8:28-29)
What a great design! God has great plans for you and me.
                                                                                                                              ~ Sarah

If you'd like to see some more photos from the rodeo and other random places, check out:
http://sarahriddle.zenfolio.com/p1023182448

Treasures of Darkness



When our electricity went out one time, we grabbed
flashlights and started looking and laughing
through old photo albums - a treasure.

 Are you afraid of the dark? I know some people really are afraid of the dark. Someone close to me turns on every light along the way if getting up in the night for a drink of water or anything.

I have good news for you, whether you are afraid of the dark or not. There are treasures in darkness. Think about the stars. You can't even see them until it becomes dark. The darker it gets, the brighter the stars shine. You also notice more and more stars as the darkness deepens. At High Knob up in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, in the late night when it's cloudless and dark, you can even see shooting stars. Of course, you have to look up to see those stars. Just like darkness in life - there are treasures there if we look for them.



Lightning in the dark, stormy skies at
the beach made the clouds appear
pink and glowing - a treasure.


Someone sharing a testimony of God's faithfulness and guidance stated that God doesn't waste anything. I agree with that. God can use anything and everything. He promises in Isaiah 45:3 "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."

I've gone through dark times of different varieties and have collected treasures along the way, like the treasure of knowing with certainty that God is always faithful and always loving. I just want to encourage you all to look for those treasures of darkness, too. They are there. Go ahead and look around!
                                                                               ~ Sarah